The City of Brockton’s “Champion Plan”: The Role of Police Departments in Facilitating Access to Treatment

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Publication Date

11-1-2019

Abstract

The City of Brockton (Massachusetts) initiated The Champion Plan (TCP) in February 2016 as part of a community-wide effort to redefine the public safety sector’s approach to policing the drug crisis. TCP program model allows those suffering from addiction to walk into a police station and ask for treatment. Early evidence suggests substantial successes for this approach to addressing addiction. Data show 523 individuals walked into the Brockton Police Department 818 times looking for help during the first 24 months of operation. Program staff were able to secure placement beds, on average, within 90 minutes of making contact with clients. Program clients report high levels of satisfaction with the program model, and early data indicate that a substantial number of clients retain engagement with services beyond intake. Findings from this study indicate police-centered treatment-on-demand programs may be viable strategies for getting those suffering from the disease of addiction into treatment.

Volume

63

Issue

15-16

First Page

2630

Last Page

2653

DOI

10.1177/0306624X19866127

ISSN

0306624X

E-ISSN

15526933

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